Know Your Rights
Local, state, and federal laws protect your rights against abuse by the police. By providing this information, OPA wants to ensure that you know your rights when interacting with the Seattle Police Department so that you can be safe and confident that your City government is serving you.
If you are concerned by how you were treated in an interaction with SPD, please file a complaint.
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Identify themselves and provide their names/badge numbers, if requested
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Record all stops, detentions, searches, and arrests on body-cam; advise you they're doing so
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Provide the reason for the stop or detention
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Be courteous and professional
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Document the stop and give you written documentation when it's over, such as a business card, ticket, or written warning
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Request a supervisor come to the scene if you feel that you have been profiled based on race, sex or gender identity, LGBTQ identity, age, or other protected category
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Call a supervisor if you have a complaint about how you have been treated or if you were placed in handcuffs
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Assist any person who wants to file a complaint
